Chapter 21: Stunned

“Brother Chen, please take care of me in the future.”

The two Yamen Heads who had come with Min Baoyi saw him turn and leave. At that moment, they quickly spoke to Chen Mu with smiles, their tones not daring to be presumptuous.

Although both were older than Chen Mu, they addressed him as ‘Brother Chen’ right away. They hadn’t even dared to call him that in front of Min Baoyi, considering Min Baoyi had told Chen Mu to call him ‘Old Brother’. They certainly didn’t have the right to fraternize with a Constable.

“You’re too kind.”

Chen Mu cupped his fist in the other hand towards the two Yamen Heads.

He naturally recognized them. One was surnamed Wang, and the other was surnamed Zhong. Because they weren’t the Yamen Heads in charge of him, they hadn’t had much interaction in the past. Occasionally, when they met, he would have to bow his head in respect. But now, not only were they actively showing goodwill, they were even lowering their status.

“Brother Chen, if you have matters to attend to, please go ahead. I’ll handle things here.”

Yamen Head Wang said to Chen Mu with a smile.

Chen Mu didn’t stand on ceremony, cupped his fist in the other hand, and went straight into his house.

As soon as he left.

Yamen Head Wang turned his head to look at Wang Zhao and the others, the smile on his face immediately turning cold. He raised his hand and slapped Wang Zhao across the face, saying, “You blind fools! You share the same surname as me, but do you think Brother Chen is someone you can offend? Get up, all of you!”

Wang Zhao and the others all turned pale, trembling, but not daring to disobey. They staggered and followed Yamen Head Wang away.

At this moment,

the entire street alley, which had seemed frozen, gradually thawed. Behind those tightly closed doors, pairs of eyes peeking out from the cracks in the doors shifted to look at each other, their eyes still filled with shock.

As neighbors in the same alley, they naturally all knew Chen Mu. In their past impressions, he had just been a poor, struggling Yamen Runner. Who knew he would suddenly become so powerful? What was going on?

Even though they didn’t know how Chen Mu had come to know such a high-ranking figure as Min Baoyi, everyone was clear in their hearts that Chen Mu from now on would be completely different.

In the distance.

Several Red Gold Gang members who had come upon hearing the news, having witnessed the whole farce, glanced at each other and then, without any prior agreement, turned and quickly left.

They had to quickly report this matter to their Branch Leader and Gang Leader. Someone who had suddenly emerged, someone who could be on brotherly terms with Min Baoyi, was definitely extraordinary and a significant event.

“The son of the Old Chen family is about to have a meteoric rise.”

Sitting at the entrance of the alley, an emaciated old man with a dry tobacco pipe in his mouth watched as the front of Chen Mu’s house became quiet again. He exhaled a puff of smoke and sighed, then stood up. As he walked, he tapped the ground lightly with his pipe, humming:

“Year after year, the flowers resemble each other… but year after year, people are different…”

His figure gradually disappeared into the alley.

…

At the entrance of another alley.

Zhang Hai’s somewhat bloated body was hidden behind a mud wall. At this moment, he seemed to be stuck to the mud wall, frozen and motionless, his small eyes filled with a dazed expression.

His heart was even more blank and confused.

He had arrived early and had witnessed everything. He had originally wanted to see Chen Mu make a fool of himself, but things had taken a sharp turn with the appearance of Min Baoyi.

He had been astonished that Min Baoyi, a dignified Constable, would appear in such a place. Then he had been so shocked that his eyes nearly popped out and his jaw almost broke.

What had he just seen?

Min Baoyi… on brotherly terms with Chen Mu!

What kind of existence was Min Baoyi? A Constable in charge of a Li area in the South District. He was someone high above, almost like the difference between clouds and mud compared to ordinary commoners. Even the gentry masters who lived on the Inner Street of Nine Strip Li had to be polite and well-behaved when they met Min Baoyi.

It was incomprehensible.

Even in his dreams, such a thing could not have happened.

This scene had shaken Zhang Hai’s heart so much that he was completely disoriented. He could no longer hear or see what was happening afterwards. It was as if his ears had been stuffed with cotton and his eyes had been covered with white powder.

He stood there with a blank expression for who knows how long, until his legs went numb. He finally came back to his senses with a stumble. But even after shaking his head vigorously, his mind still felt like a mess, confused and at a loss.

…

Stepping into the house.

The first thing Chen Mu saw was Wang Ni, who was clearly frightened, looking as if she had been crying, and Chen Yue, who seemed to be carefully listening to the noises outside while blinking her eyes at him.

“Brother?”

Chen Yue called out.

Although she and Wang Ni were hiding in the corner of the room and couldn’t see what was happening outside, they could hear the sounds. But what they heard made her a little stunned because even she was somewhat at a loss. How did Chen Mu know someone like Min Baoyi?

The City Guard Constable of Nine Strip Li… she knew that he was in charge of patrolling the security of tens of thousands of households in the entire Nine Strip Li. Chen Mu had even told her that in this chaotic world, a Constable was almost like a local emperor of an area.

Although Chen Mu had mentioned ‘moving’ and ‘better days are coming’ to her these past few days, he had always said things like that in the past, so she hadn’t felt it so strongly.

But…

today’s events made her feel different.

The City Guard Constable had personally come, and was even on brotherly terms with Chen Mu.

What had previously seemed like just a hope, a dream, a glimmer of light supporting their journey, suddenly felt very close. It was almost within reach, and it was a bit too sudden for her to process and comprehend. It made her little head a bit dizzy.

Chen Mu walked up to Chen Yue, reached out with a smile, and tapped her cute nose. Then, with some emotion, he looked around at the bare mud walls, the faded, worn-out tables and chairs, and the patched-up cotton quilts.

This place held more than a decade of his memories.

And three years of living.

Eating old rice, chewing coarse flour buns and cornbread… in winter, they didn’t even have enough thick quilts, and had to cuddle together to keep warm on the same bed.

They couldn’t afford new clothes, or new padded jackets, because the world was unstable, and they could only keep Chen Yue indoors, not letting her go out.

They had to be careful in everything, afraid of offending anyone, and scared of getting caught up in any trouble. They kept their heads down, acted cautiously, worked diligently, day after day, year after year. Finally, from a few days ago, he had silver, had strength, and had confidence.

And now, today, they were about to completely transform.

Chen Mu stepped forward and hugged Chen Yue tightly, then took a light breath, patted her head, and said, “I’m going to the City Guard Headquarters later, and then tomorrow… we’re moving.”

“…Okay.”

Chen Yue raised her head and nodded firmly in Chen Mu’s embrace.

Her adorable big eyes were shining with a light called ‘hope and joy’.

The past two days had been filled with ups and downs, from the fright in the night, to the commotion today. It had truly been a rollercoaster. But she had always trusted Chen Mu and believed in everything her brother said. No matter how scared or panicked she was, she had endured and held herself together.

Finally.

These days were welcoming a glimmer of hope.

After comforting Chen Yue and Wang Ni, Chen Mu didn’t delay for too long. He hid the silver, placed the Golden Jade Skin Grinding Method close to his body, and set off towards the City Guard Headquarters.

The door bolt was broken.

But Chen Mu didn’t care. Even just closing the door now was more ‘secure’ than the previous door bolt.

Wang Zhao and the others had long since disappeared, and the two Yamen Heads were also gone. Only a few scattered figures could be seen in the distance in the alley, gathered in small groups, not knowing what they were talking about.

When they saw the door open and Chen Mu walk out, those people immediately fell silent.

As they watched Chen Mu approach, the people along the way made way for him. Whether they were neighbors or a few idlers, they all carefully stepped aside, even giving him a smile when Chen Mu’s gaze landed on them.

Chen Mu ignored them and walked straight through the alley. He quickly walked into the distance, leaving only a path of respectful and envious gazes.